Component and material traceability control apparatus, control method, control program, and control program memory medium

ABSTRACT

The present invention is related to a component and material traceability control apparatus for controlling manufacturing lot identification information of any of a component and material constituting a product manufactured according to a process where a manufacturing apparatus with not less than one component and material reserve unit picks up a needed amount out of the component and material reserved in the component and material reserve unit and manufactures the product, and the component and material traceability control apparatus is equipped with at least a processing unit, a memory unit used as a work area by the processing unit, a manufacturing performance information memory unit, a component and material supply performance information memory unit, and a manufacturing lot trace information memory unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application, Ser. No.11/046,589, which was filed on Jan. 28, 2005, and issued on Mar. 7, 2006as U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,378, and which, in turn, claims the benefit ofthe filing date of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-217240 filed onJul. 26, 2004, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a component and material traceabilitycontrol apparatus, control method, control program, and control programmemory medium for controlling manufacturing lot identificationinformation of a component and material constituting a product.

2. Description of the Related Art

When there is a defect in a produced and sold product, an enterprisethat has manufactured or sold the product receives not a little damageon a management thereof. Therefore, an enterprise of a manufacturingindustry performs quality control in all processes from a product designto a manufacturing till a packaging. However, even how the qualitycontrol is reinforced, a possibility of an inferior quality productflowing into a market cannot be completely made zero. If the possibilityof the inferior quality product flowing into the market is notcompletely zero, it becomes a big problem how to swiftly inquire into acause thereof and how to recover the inferior quality product from themarket without cost.

Generally, when an inferior quality problem occurs in a product, ameasure of a product recovery and change is taken for a product alreadydelivered to a market; and a measure such as a delivery stop,manufacturing stop, and the like is taken for a product before adelivery. In addition, with respect to a product made as an inferiorquality product, a manufacturing date of the product, an apparatus usedin a manufacturing thereof, an origin of a component and materialconstituting the product, and the like are traced back, and thereby acause of the inferior quality is inferred or specified. And when thecause of the inferior quality is specified, a treatment for removing thecause is performed. In addition, when there is a defect in some of acomponent of a product, upon recovering the component based on amanufacturing number and manufacturing lot number thereof for theproduct having flowed into the market, some defective component ischanged. In addition, at a manufacturing job site the manufacturing isreopened, upon changing the component used.

Thus in order to inquire into a cause of the inferior quality and torecover an inferior quality product from a market, the manufacturingnumber or the manufacturing lot number plays an important role.

In this connection, many industrial products are manufactured by workingor assembling many components and materials (hereinafter referred to as“component/material (part)”). And in many cases the “component/material”is manufactured in other enterprises and is purchased. Accordingly, inthe inferior quality of a product there are something originated in adesign or a manufacturing process and something brought from outside asthe inferior quality of a purchase “component/material.” Therefore, whenintending to swiftly inquire into the cause and to recover the productat low cost, it is necessary to control each manufacturing number andeach manufacturing lot number of the “component/material” used for eachproduct manufactured.

Conventionally, it is already known a system of controlling eachmanufacturing number and manufacturing lot number of the“component/material” used for each product. For example, at paragraphs0006 to 0026 and FIGS. 1 to 3 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open PublicationNo. 2004-134509 (hereinafter referred to as patent document 1), at aportion where a conventional technology is described is shown an exampleof a traceability system for controlling the manufacturing lot number ofthe “component/material” used for an electronic circuit board withrespect to the board manufactured. And as a technology of the patentdocument 1, instead of controlling the manufacturing lot number, isshown an example of the traceability system, where a manufacturedelectronic circuit board is designed to control a process by its passingtime and to simultaneously control the manufacturing lot number of the“component/material” in each process.

In addition, at paraphrases 0006 to 0026 and FIGS. 1 to 7 of JapanesePatent Laid-Open Publication Hei. 9-252195 (hereinafter referred to aspatent document 2) is shown, in an apparatus for mounting the“component/material” on an electronic circuit board, a control system ofa resupply “component/material” where a history of an identificationnumber of the “component/material” actually mounted is designed to bekept in order to enable a trace of the “component/material” mounted,when there occurs a trouble in the electronic circuit boardmanufactured, and to prevent an erroneous mount.

In the patent documents 1 and 2 one manufacturing number ormanufacturing lot number is made to correspond to each“component/material” used in a product. Thus the “component/material”can be accurately made to correspond to the manufacturing number ormanufacturing lot number. However, if attempting to accurately make the“component/material” correspond to the manufacturing number ormanufacturing lot number, a manufacturing apparatus and controlprocedure for make the correspondence become complicated. As a result,the manufacturing cost and control cost of the product result inbecoming large.

For example, with respect to a pass capacitor and the like used in anelectronic circuit board, because the “component/material” itself issmall, there is no space for affixing a barcode and the like forindicating a manufacturing lot number thereof. If so, the control of themanufacturing lot number can be performed in nothing but a level of astorage case for packaging the “component/material.” In that case“component/material” with a plurality of manufacturing lot numberscannot be put in one storage case. Or, even if the “component/material”with the plurality of the manufacturing lot numbers can be put in onestorage case, it results in standing extra control cost for such asbeing stored in specific order and making a table of the manufacturinglot numbers matching storage positions.

Consequently, for example, there is some idea of not controlling amanufacturing lot number for “component/material” such as a passcapacitor similar to “a screw and a nail.” However, in that case, whenthere occurs an inferior quality problem in the “component/material” notcontrolled, a clue for inquiring into a cause thereof is lost. Inaddition, for example, even when the manufacturing lot number and thelike of the “component/material” with the inferior quality become clear,product recovery cost results in becoming larger because themanufacturing number of the product using the “component/material” ofthe inferior quality cannot be narrowed down.

Thus considering the problems of conventional technologies, it isstrongly requested a traceability control apparatus, control method,control program, and control program memory medium that simplify themanufacturing lot number control of the “component/material”constituting a product, and thereby that can reduce control costthereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above problems, a “component/material (part)”traceability control apparatus of the present invention is an apparatusfor controlling manufacturing lot identification information of“component/material,” which constitutes a product, in the productmanufactured according to a process where a manufacturing apparatuscomprising not less than one “component/material” reserve unit takes outa needed amount out of the “component/material” reserved in the“component/material” reserve unit and thereby manufactures the product;wherein the “component/material” traceability control apparatus isdesigned to be a configuration of comprising at least a processing unit,a memory unit used as a working area by the processing unit, amanufacturing performance information memory unit, a“component/material” supply performance information memory unit, and amanufacturing lot trace information memory unit. And with respect to theproduct manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus, information ofmanufacturing start time and end time by the manufacturing apparatus ismade to correspond to manufacturing apparatus identification informationof the manufacturing apparatus and manufactured article (assemblemodule) identification information of the product manufactured, and thusis memorized in the manufacturing performance information memory unit;and in addition, “component/material” supply start time and stop timewhen a supply of predetermined “component/material” is started andstopped in a “component/material” reserve unit of the manufacturingapparatus are made to correspond to the manufacturing lot identificationinformation of the “component/material,” the manufacturing apparatusidentification information of the manufacturing apparatus, the“component/material” reserve unit identification information of the“component/material” reserve unit, and a name of the“component/material” supplied and thus are memorized in the“component/material” supply performance information memory unit. And aproduct manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus is designed so thatnot less than one piece of manufacturing lot identification informationof “component/material” usable in the product is extracted, and not lessthan the one piece of manufacturing lot identification informationextracted is made to correspond to the manufactured articleidentification information and the name of the “component/material” andis memorized in the manufacturing lot trace information memory unit,based on the information of the manufacturing start time and end time ofa product memorized in the manufacturing performance information memoryunit and the information of the “component/material” supply start timeand stop time memorized in the “component/material” supply performanceinformation memory unit.

Thus the “component/material” traceability control apparatus of thepresent invention obtains the information of a basis of manufacturinglot trace information, matching timings of major events in any of amanufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing process, that is, amanufacturing start and end of a product, and “component/material”supply start and stop of “component/material” in a “component/material”reserve unit. And at that time the control apparatus does not makemanufacturing lot identification information correspond to each“component/material.” As a result, although a plurality of manufacturinglot identification information are made to correspond to one“component/material” in some case, the cost of the manufacturingapparatus and the control cost for obtaining traceability controlinformation can be reduced.

In addition, when in the present invention, in a “component/material”reserve unit of a manufacturing apparatus, the manufacturing lot traceinformation memory unit makes “component/material” supply start time ofa supply of a predetermined “component/material” being started and“component/material” supply stop time of the supply being stoppedcorrespond to the manufacturing lot identification information of the“component/material,” the manufacturing apparatus identificationinformation of the manufacturing apparatus, the “component/material”reserve unit identification information of the “component/material”reserve unit, and the name of the “component/material” supplied and thusmemorizes the start time and stop time in the “component/material”supply performance information memory unit, the manufacturing lotidentification information is designed to be not less than one piece ofmanufacturing lot identification information.

In other words, a plurality of manufacturing lot identificationinformation is designed to be able to correspond to one“component/material” supplied to a “component/material” reserve unit.Therefore, it becomes enabled to mix “component/material” with aplurality of manufacturing lot numbers into a package case and a storagecase. Or it also becomes enabled to mix a “component/material” with aplurality of manufacturing lot numbers in a “component/material” reserveunit of a manufacturing apparatus. Therefore, the control of themanufacturing lot identification information of the “component/material”is simplified and the cost of the manufacturing apparatus is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing exemplifying a manufacturing model of an electroniccircuit board using a manufacturing apparatus where the presentinvention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a configuration example of a“component/material (part)” traceability control apparatus in anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a drawing exemplifying a time chart of a manufacturingprocedure of a manufactured article (assembled module) and that of a“component/material” supply procedure to a “component/material” reserveunit by a manufacturing apparatus in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a configuration example of records memorizedin a manufacturing performance information memory unit in an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a configuration example of records memorizedin a “component/material” supply performance information memory unit inan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a configuration example of records memorizedin a manufacturing lot trace information memory unit in an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a configuration example of records memorizedin a manufactured article configuration information memory unit in anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a flowchart showing a procedure for obtainingtraceability information of “component/material” memorized in amanufacturing lot trace information memory unit in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a configuration example of records memorizedin a purchase lot trace information memory unit in a variation exampleof an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a drawing exemplifying a time chart of a manufacturingprocedure of an electronic circuit board when the present invention isapplied to a flow soldering process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Here will be described embodiments of the present invention in detail,referring to drawings as needed.

FIG. 1 is a drawing exemplifying a manufacturing model of an electroniccircuit board using a manufacturing apparatus where the presentinvention is applied. In FIG. 1 a manufacturing apparatus 1 is anelectronic circuit board manufacturing apparatus and comprises a workingunit 11 and a plurality of “component/material (part)” reserve units 12;and in addition, a manufacturing control personal computer 2 isconnected to the manufacturing apparatus 1.

The manufacturing apparatus 1 of this case is an apparatus for mountingan electronic circuit component on a before-working electronic circuitboard 4 where a through hole is already formed and which is print-wired,for performing soldering by a reflow solder and a flow solder, and formanufacturing a working-completion electronic circuit board 5. Althoughin FIG. 1 the working unit 11 is shown only one, it actually comprises aplurality of working units consisting of a chip mounting apparatus, asoldering tool, and the like. Here to make a description easilyunderstandable, the working unit 11 is assumed to comprise one chipmounting apparatus.

The “component/material” reserve unit 12 is a container for temporarykeeping an electronic circuit component mounted on the before-workingelectronic circuit board 4. As electronic circuit components, there areLSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuits), IC (Integrated Circuits), diodes,resistances, capacitors, and the like. These electronic circuitcomponents are usually delivered from an electronic componentmanufacturer in a form contained in a carrier tape and a feeder cart(called a magazine in some case). Therefore, many actual“component/material” reserve units 12 are designed so that these carriertape and feeder cart can be directly set. Accordingly, manufacturing lotnumbers of electronic circuit components are usually added to thecarrier tape and the feeder cart, and in the embodiment it is assumedthat a barcode of a manufacturing lot number is added to a“component/material” containing case such as the carrier tape and thefeeder cart. Here, the barcode may also be a two-dimensional one.

The chip mounting apparatus of the working unit 11 takes out electroniccircuit components one by one contained in the “component/material”reserve unit 12 and mounts them on predetermined positions of thebefore-working electronic circuit board 4. Meanwhile, there are also aplurality of types in the chip mounting apparatus, and whenmanufacturing a usual electronic circuit board, two kinds of chipmounting apparatuses are used in many cases. Here, even when chipmounting apparatuses used are plural, this is regarded as one chipmounting apparatus, totally including this.

In FIG. 1 the manufacturing control personal computer 2 is connected tothe working unit 11 and each of the “component/material” reserve units12 through lines not shown and monitors each operation situationthereof. In addition, the personal computer 2 comprises barcode readers3 and, through them, reads a barcode of a manufactured article (assemblemodule) identification number printed on the before-working electroniccircuit board 4 and the working-completion electronic circuit board 5.In addition, through the barcode readers 3, the personal computer 2reads a barcode of a manufacturing lot identification number added to acarrier tape and a feeder cart set at the “component/material” reserveunit 12.

Meanwhile, here instead of the barcode readers 3, a monitor camera and acharacter recognition apparatus may be used. In this case a manufacturedarticle identification number and the like according to a character maybe printed on an electronic circuit board and the like instead of abarcode. In addition, an IC tag reader may be used instead of thebarcode readers 3. In this case an IC tag is assumed to be affixed to acontaining case of an electronic circuit board and an electronic circuitcomponent.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a configuration example of a“component/material” traceability control apparatus in the embodiment.In FIG. 2 a “component/material” traceability control apparatus 7 is acomputer comprising a processing unit 71, a memory unit 72, aninput/output interface unit 73, a liquid crystal display unit 74, akeyboard 75, a manufacturing performance information memory unit 76, a“component/material” supply performance information memory unit 77, amanufacturing lot trace information memory unit 78, a purchase lot traceinformation memory unit 79, and a manufactured article configurationinformation memory unit 80.

Here, the memory unit 72 comprises a semiconductor memory and a magnetichard disk device, and a program and operating system for realizing afunction of the “component/material” traceability control apparatus 7are stored therein. And the memory unit 72 is also used as a workingarea when the processing unit 71 runs the program.

Here, the input/output interface unit 73 comprises interfaces forconnecting outside peripherals such as an interface with the liquidcrystal display unit 74 and the keyboard 75 and an interface with anetwork 8. In addition, the liquid crystal display unit 74 and thekeyboard 75 are used for a user's inputting information in the“component/material” traceability control apparatus 7 and consultinginformation. Here, instead of the liquid crystal display unit 74,another display unit such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and the like maybe used.

The performance information memory unit 76, “component/material” supplyperformance information memory unit 77, manufacturing lot traceinformation memory unit 78, purchase lot trace information memory unit79, and manufactured article configuration information memory unit 80are configured on a large capacity memory device such as a magnetic harddisk device and memorize information for realizing the function of the“component/material” traceability control apparatus 7. With respect to acontent of information which each of the memory units 76 to 80memorizes, it will be separately described in detail, using drawings.

In FIG. 2 the “component/material” traceability control apparatus 7 isconnected to the network 8 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) throughthe input/output interface unit 73, and further connected to themanufacturing control personal computer 2 of the manufacturing apparatus1 through the network 8. Although in FIG. 2 only one personal computer 2is depicted, a configuration of a plurality of manufacturing controlpersonal computers 2 being connected is also available. In addition, themanufacturing control personal computers 2 may control manufacturinginformation of a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 1.

FIG. 3 is a drawing exemplifying a time chart of a manufacturingprocedure of a manufactured article and that of a “component/material”supply procedure to a “component/material” reserve unit by amanufacturing apparatus in the embodiment. Here will be described themanufacturing procedure in the electronic circuit board manufacturingapparatus shown in FIG. 1, using FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3 a time chart at an utmost stage is the chart showing amanufacturing procedure of an electronic circuit board with amanufactured article name PB00A. In accordance with the time chart, amanufacturing of an electronic circuit board with a manufactured articleidentification number A0001 is finished at eight fifty five in theworking unit 11 of the manufacturing apparatus 1 and is removed from theworking unit 11. Next, another electronic circuit board with amanufactured article identification number A0002 is set in the workingunit 11, and a manufacturing thereof is started at nine o'clock. And themanufacturing of the electronic circuit board with the manufacturedarticle identification number A0002 is finished at nine fifty five andis removed from the working unit 11. Next, still another electroniccircuit board with a manufactured article identification number A0003 isset in the working unit 11, and a manufacturing thereof is started atten o'clock.

A manufactured article identification number (for example, A0001) isprinted with a barcode at a predetermined position of a surface of thebefore-working electronic circuit board 4. Consequently, when thebefore-working electronic circuit board 4 is set in the working unit 11,the manufacturing control personal computer 2 reads the barcode throughone of the barcode readers 3 and memorizes time then as manufacturingstart time. In addition, when the manufacturing of the electroniccircuit board is finished and the working-completion electronic circuitboard 5 thereof is removed from the working unit 11, the manufacturingcontrol personal computer 2 again reads the barcode through the barcodereader 3 and memorizes time then as manufacturing end time.

In FIG. 3 time charts below a third stage are the charts showing aprocedure for supplying “component/material” with respective“component/material” names IC001, DI003, and CA789 to the“component/material” reserve units 12 with respective identificationnumbers 123A, 123B, and 123C.

In accordance with FIG. 3, in the “component/material” reserve unit 12with the identification number 123A is at first reserved“component/material” (for example, an IC chip) with the“component/material” name IC001 and a manufacturing lot identificationnumber LOT012A in a state of being contained in any of a carrier tapeand a feeder cart; and the “component/material” is completely used atnine thirty, and a supply thereof is stopped from the“component/material” reserve unit 12. And “component/material” with the“component/material” name IC001 and a manufacturing lot identificationnumber LOT012A2 is newly set in the “component/material” reserve unit 12with the identification number 123A in a state of being contained in anyof a carrier tape and a feeder cart; and a supply thereof is started atnine forty.

Similarly, in the “component/material” reserve unit 12 with theidentification number 123B is at first reserved “component/material”(for example, a diode chip) with the “component/material” name DI003 anda manufacturing lot identification number LOT123B1, and a supply thereofis stopped at eight fifty five. And “component/material” with the“component/material” name DT003 and the manufacturing lot identificationnumber LOT123B1 or LOT123B2 is set at the “component/material” reserveunit 12 with the identification number 123B in a state of beingcontained in any of a carrier tape and a feeder cart, a supply thereofis started at nine o'clock, and the supply is stopped at ten fifteen.Furthermore similarly, the supply of “component/material” with the“component/material” name DI003 and a manufacturing lot identificationnumber LOT123B3 is started at ten twenty.

In addition, in the “component/material” reserve unit 12 with theidentification number 123C is started and stopped the supply of“component/material” (for example, a capacitor) with the“component/material” name CA789 according to the similar procedure.However, the example of this time chart is different from other ones ina point that time from the supply stop to supply start of the“component/material” is zero.

In the embodiment a manufacturing lot identification number of relevant“component/material” is added to any of a carrier tape and feeder cartof a “component/material” containing case with a barcode. Consequently,when the “component/material” containing case is set in the“component/material” reserve unit 12, the manufacturing control personalcomputer 2 reads the barcode added to the “component/material”containing case through the barcode reader 3 and memorizes time then as“component/material” supply start time. In addition, if themanufacturing control personal computer 2 detects that the“component/material” in the “component/material” reserve unit 12 runsshort, it memorizes time then as “component/material” supply stop timeand request for an operator or an automatic loader not shown to removean empty “component/material” containing case and to set a new one.

In addition, FIG. 3 shows that “component/material” with differentmanufacturing lot identification numbers (LOT123B1 and LOT123B2 ) ismixed in the “component/material” reserve unit 12 with theidentification number 123B from nine o'clock to ten fifteen.

In such the case the manufacturing control personal computer 2 of thepresent invention does not discriminate the “component/material” withthe manufacturing lot identification number LOT123B1 from one with themanufacturing lot identification number LOT123B2 that are mixed in the“component/material” reserve unit 12. Because this makes theconfiguration of the manufacturing apparatus 1 simpler, the cost of themanufacturing apparatus 1 results in being lower. Here, because if it isdesigned that a manufacturing lot identification number can bediscriminated, various burdens and restrictions are added to a supplymechanism and supply procedure of “component/material” in the“component/material” reserve unit 12, an apparatus configuration thereofbecomes complicated, and apparatus cost thereof becomes larger.

Consequently, in such the case the embodiment makes a plurality ofmanufacturing lot identification numbers correspond to one“component/material.” In other words, the manufacturing control personalcomputer 2 assumes that a manufacturing lot identification number of the“component/material” with the “component/material” name DI003 used in anelectronic circuit board with the manufactured article identificationnumber A0002 is any of LOT123B1 and LOT123B2, and the personal computer2 memorizes both manufacturing lot identification numbers.

Thus there occurs a situation that “component/material” with differentmanufacturing lot identification numbers is mixed in one“component/material” reserve unit 12 in following cases:

a case that “component/material” with a plurality of manufacturing lotidentification numbers is mixed and contained in a carrier tape, afeeder cart, and another “component/material” containing case;”

a case of not a configuration that a plurality of carrier tapes andfeeder carts can be set in the “component/material” reserve unit 12 andthat the working unit 11 can discriminate the carrier tapes and feedercarts, even if “component/material” with a same manufacturing lotidentification number is contained in the carrier tapes and the feedercarts; and

a case of replenishing another “component/material” with a differentmanufacturing lot identification number notwithstanding“component/material” remaining in the “component/material” reserve unit12.

Meanwhile, the case (3) is such a case that “component/material” isreplenished at a manufacturing start timing in the working unit 11, andsuch the case may be thought to actually often happen.

Furthermore, on the way of the working unit 11 manufacturing theelectronic circuit board with the manufactured article identificationnumber A0002, in the “component/material” reserve unit 12 with theidentification number 123A, the manufacturing lot identification numberof the “component/material” with the “component/material” name IC001 ischanged from LOT012A1 to LOT012A2. In such the case there is apossibility that not only the “component/material” with themanufacturing lot identification number LOT012A but also the“component/material” with the manufacturing lot identification numberLOT012A2 are used in the electronic circuit board with the manufacturedarticle identification number A0002. In such the case the embodimentdoes not discriminate the manufacturing lot identification numbers ofthe “component/material,” and the manufacturing control personalcomputer 2 memorizes both of two manufacturing lot identificationnumbers LOT012A1 and LOT012A2 as the manufacturing lot identificationnumber of the “component/material” with the “component/material” nameIC001 used in the electronic circuit board with the manufactured articleidentification number A0002.

Thus as described in FIG. 3, when a manufactured article manufactured bythe manufacturing apparatus 1 is put in and taken out from the workingunit 11, the manufacturing control personal computer 2 reads amanufactured article identification number added to the manufacturedarticle and memorizes the manufacturing lot identification number read,together with time then (manufacturing start time and end time). Inaddition, when “component/material” is supplied to the“component/material” reserve unit 12, and it becomes empty or it becomesnecessary to replenish new “component/material,” the manufacturingcontrol personal computer 2 reads a manufacturing lot identificationnumber of “component/material” added to any of the “component/material”and a containing case thereof and memorizes the manufacturing lotidentification number read, together with time then(“component/material” supply start time and stop time).

Furthermore, the manufacturing control personal computer 2 sendsinformation, where the manufacturing apparatus identification number ofthe manufacturing apparatus 1 and a manufactured article namemanufactured are added to a manufactured article identification numbermemorized, manufacturing start time, and manufacturing end time that arememorized, to the “component/material” traceability control apparatus 7through the network 8. In addition, similarly, the manufacturing controlpersonal computer 2 sends information, where the manufacturing apparatusidentification number of the manufacturing apparatus 1, the“component/material” reserve unit identification number of the“component/material” reserve unit 12, and the “component/material” nameare added to the “component/material” manufacturing lot identificationnumber, “component/material” supply start time, and “component/material”supply stop time that are memorized, to the “component/material”traceability control apparatus 7 through the network 8.

FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a configuration example of records memorizedin the manufacturing performance information memory unit 76 in theembodiment. Here, a record means a plurality of information collected upto one set as interrelated information, and when memorized in a memorydevice such a magnetic hard disk, it is handled as one set ofinformation to be memorized. In addition, one record is constituted of aplurality of fields, and in one field is usually memorized one piece ofinformation.

In FIG. 4 a record of the manufacturing performance information memoryunit 76 is constituted of fields comprising a manufacturing apparatusidentification number 761, a manufactured article name 762, amanufactured article identification number 763, a manufacturing starttime 764, and a manufacturing end time 765, respectively.

The “component/material” traceability control apparatus 7 receives theinformation of a manufactured article identification number,manufacturing start time, manufacturing end time, manufacturingapparatus identification number, and manufactured article name relatingto a product manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 1 out ofinformation sent from the manufacturing control personal computer 2 andmemorizes the information as one record in the manufacturing performanceinformation memory unit 76. In other words, in the field of themanufacturing apparatus identification number 761 is memorized themanufacturing apparatus identification number of the manufacturingapparatus 1, in the field of the manufactured article name 762 ismemorized the name of the manufactured article manufactured by themanufacturing apparatus 1, and in the field of the manufactured articleidentification number 763 is memorized the manufactured articleidentification number of the manufactured article manufactured by themanufacturing apparatus 1. In addition, in the fields of themanufacturing start time 764 and the manufacturing end time 765 arerespectively memorized the manufacturing start time and manufacturingend time of the manufactured article with a manufactured articleidentification number specified by the field of the manufactured articleidentification number 763.

For example, a second record of manufacturing information of FIG. 4indicates that a manufacturing of an electronic circuit board with themanufactured article name PB00A and the manufactured articleidentification number A0002 is started at nine o'clock on the tenth ofJune, 2004 and finished at nine fifty five on the same day by themanufacturing apparatus 1 with a manufacturing apparatus identificationnumber M0123.

FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a configuration example of records memorizedin the “component/material” supply performance information memory unit77 in the embodiment. In FIG. 5 a record of the “component/material”supply performance information memory unit 77 is constituted of fieldscomprising a manufacturing apparatus identification number 771, a“component/material” reserve unit identification number 772, a“component/material” name 773, a manufacturing lot identification number774, a “component/material” supply start time 775, and a“component/material” supply stop time 776, respectively.

The “component/material” traceability control apparatus 7 receives theinformation of a manufacturing lot identification number,“component/material” supply start time, “component/material” supply stoptime, manufacturing apparatus identification number,“component/material” reserve unit identification number, and“component/material” name relating to “component/material” supplied tothe “component/material” reserve unit 12 out of information sent fromthe manufacturing control personal computer 2 and memorizes theinformation as one record in the “component/material” supply performanceinformation memory unit 77. In other words, in the field of themanufacturing apparatus identification number 771 is memorized themanufacturing apparatus identification number of the manufacturingapparatus 1, in the field of the “component/material” reserve unitidentification number 772 is memorized the identification number of the“component/material” reserve unit 12 where the “component/material” issupplied, and in the field of the “component/material” name 773 ismemorized the name of the “component/material.” In addition, in thefield of the manufacturing lot identification number 774 is memorizedthe manufacturing lot identification number of the “component/material”actually supplied to the “component/material” reserve unit 12, and inthe fields of the “component/material” supply start time 775 and the“component/material” supply stop time 776 are respectively memorizedtime, when any of the “component/material” and a containing case thereofis set, and time, when the “component/material” runs short or thecontaining case is removed.

For example, a second record of the “component/material” supplyperformance information of FIG. 5 indicates that “component/material”with the “component/material” name IC001 and the manufacturing lotidentification number LOT012A2 is started to be supplied at nine fortyon the tenth of June, 2004 and stopped to be supplied at eleven twentyon the same day in the “component/material” reserve unit 12 of themanufacturing apparatus 1 with the “component/material” reserve unitidentification number 123A and the manufacturing apparatusidentification number M0123, respectively. In addition, forth and fifthrecords of the “component/material” supply performance information ofFIG. 5 indicate that “component/material” with the same“component/material” name (DI003) and two different manufacturing lotidentification numbers (LOT123B1 and LOT123B2 ) is supplied at the sametime zone (from nine o'clock till ten fifteen on the tenth of June,2004).

Thus if the “component/material” traceability control apparatus 7memorizes information sent from the manufacturing control personalcomputer 2 in the manufacturing performance information memory unit 76and the “component/material” supply performance information memory unit77, it obtains manufacturing lot trace information, based on theinformation memorized, and memorizes a result thereof in themanufacturing lot trace information memory unit 78.

FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a configuration example of records memorizedin the manufacturing lot trace information memory unit 78 in theembodiment; FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a configuration example ofrecords memorized in a manufactured article configuration informationmemory unit 80 in the embodiment; and FIG. 8 is an example of aflowchart showing a procedure for obtaining traceability information ofa “component/material” memorized in the manufacturing lot traceinformation memory unit 78 in the embodiment.

In FIG. 6 a record of the manufacturing lot trace information memoryunit 78 is constituted of fields comprising a manufactured article name781, a manufactured article identification number 782, a“component/material” name 783, and a manufacturing lot identificationnumber 784. And the record means, for example, that in a case of afourth record “a manufacturing lot identification number of“component/material” with the name IC001 constituting a manufacturedarticle (electronic circuit board) with the manufactured article namePB00A and the manufactured article identification number A0002 is any ofLOT012A and LOT012A2.” Accordingly, if there is the information of themanufacturing lot trace information memory unit 78, manufacturing lotidentification information of “component/material” used in amanufactured article can immediately be known according to amanufactured article identification number thereof; on the contrary, amanufactured article name and manufactured article identification numberwhere the “component/material” is used can be known according to a“component/material” name and a manufacturing lot identification numberthereof. In other words, the information of the manufacturing lot traceinformation memory unit 78 can be said to be traceability information of“component/material” constituting a manufactured article.

Meanwhile, in the field of the manufacturing lot identification number784, a memorable area of a plurality of manufacturing lot identificationnumbers is assumed to be ensured, and the plurality of manufacturing lotidentification numbers are memorized as needed. That in the field of themanufacturing lot identification number 784 a plurality of manufacturinglot identification numbers is memorized means that in some case aresolution of the traceability information is lowered. However, whenconstituting a product with specifically using small“component/material” such as “a screw and a nail,” an effect of reducingcost for obtaining the traceability information is larger.

In FIG. 7 the manufactured article configuration information memory unit80 is constituted of fields comprising a manufactured article name 801and a “component/material” name 802, respectively. Manufactured articleconfiguration information memorized in the manufactured articleconfiguration information memory unit 80 is a so called component tableand a list of “component/material” constituting a manufactured articlespecified by a manufactured article name. Although the component tableis often expressed in a hierarchical structure description, themanufactured article configuration information is here assumed to be aflat (one hierarchical) structure. Meanwhile, because information of thecomponent table memorized in the manufactured article configurationinformation memory unit 80 is made in designing, it is here assumed tosimplify a description that the information made is used as it is (insome case the hierarchical structure is converted to the flatstructure).

Next, according to the flowchart of FIG. 8, information to be memorizedin the manufactured article trace information memory unit 78 of FIG. 6is obtained, based on information memorized in the manufactured articleconfiguration information memory unit 80 of FIG. 7, the manufacturingperformance information memory unit 76 of FIG. 4, and the“component/material” supply performance information memory unit 77 ofFIG. 5. Meanwhile, a procedure shown therein is a run procedure of acomputer program, and usually such the program is stored in the memoryunit 72 (see FIG. 2), and the processing unit 71 reads the program fromthe memory unit 72 as needed and runs it. In addition, the program ismemorized in a computable-readable memory medium such as a CD-ROM(Compact Disk Read Only Memory) and is read as needed into the memoryunit 72 through a CD-ROM drive dive and the like not shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 8, firstly receive an input of a manufactured article name, andmake the manufactured article name #a (step S11). Meanwhile, an operatormay perform the input through the key board 75 or another program mayinput the data #a as a parameter. And refer to the manufactured articleconfiguration information memory unit 80, and extract a“component/material” name #b configuring a manufactured article with themanufactured article name #a (step S12). Here, as the“component/material” name #b, a plurality of “component/material” namesare extracted. Next, refer to the manufacturing performance informationmemory unit 76, and extract records with the manufactured article name#a, and sort them according to an order of manufactured articleidentification numbers (step S13).

Next, out of the records extracted and sorted in the step S13, pick upone of the manufactured article identification numbers, make it #c, andpick up a manufacturing apparatus identification number, manufacturingstart time, and manufacturing end time that are made to correspond tothe #c by a record comprising it, and make them #d, #e, and #f,respectively (step S14). Next, pick up one piece of “component/material”with the “component/material” name #b, and make it #g (step S15).

Refer to the “component/material” supply performance information memoryunit 77, and extract a record with the manufacturing apparatusidentification number #d and the “component/material” name #g, and makeit a record #h (step S16). Here, as the record #h are usually extracteda plurality of records. Consequently, out of the records #h extracted inthe step S16, pick up a record where time from supply start time tosupply stop time of the “component/material” overlaps time frommanufacturing start time to manufacturing end time specified by the #eand the #f, and make it a record #i (step S17). Here, as the record #iare extracted a plurality of records in some case. Next, pick up amanufacturing lot identification number for the record #i, make it #j,and memorize the #a, #c, #g, and #j in the manufacturing lot traceinformation memory unit 78 (step S18). Meanwhile, although when therecord #i is plural records, the #j also becomes plural, in this casethe manufacturing lot trace information memory unit 78 memorizes aplurality of the #i for the #a, #c, and #g.

Next, determine whether or not the “component/material” names extractedas the “component/material” names #b in the step S12 is all picked upand made the #g in the step S15 (step S19). In a determination thereof,if all the “component/material” names are not picked up and not made the#g (No in the step S19), return to the step S15, and again run theprocedure from the step S15. On the other hand, in a determination ofthe step S19, if all the “component/material” names are picked up andmade the #g (Yes in the step S19), determine whether or not all themanufactured article identification numbers are picked up out of therecords extracted and sorted in the step S13 and are made the #c (stepS20). And in a determination thereof, if there is still a manufacturedarticle identification number not made the #c (No in the step S20),return to the step S14, and again run the procedure from the step S14.On the other hand, if in a determination of the step S20 all themanufactured article identification numbers are picked up and made the#c (Yes in the step S20), end the procedure.

Thus the manufactured article trace information for the manufacturedarticle name #a firstly specified results in being made in themanufactured article trace information memory unit 78. Similarly, ifspecifying another name as a manufactured article name, the manufacturedarticle trace information can be made for manufactured articles withanother name. And according to information memorized in the manufacturedarticle trace information memory unit 78, a manufacturing lotidentification number of “component/material” used can be controlled foreach product manufactured.

[Variation Example of Embodiment]

In the embodiment thus described is not used the purchase lot traceinformation memory unit 79 (see FIG. 2). The purchase lot traceinformation memory unit 79 is used in a variation example of anembodiment described below.

FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a configuration example of records memorizedin the purchase lot trace information memory unit 79 in a variationexample of the embodiment. In FIG. 9 a record of the purchase lot traceinformation memory unit 79 is constituted of fields comprising apurchase lot identification number 791, a “component/material” name 792,and a manufacturing lot identification number 793, respectively. Here, apurchase lot means a set of “component/material” in a purchase unitpurchased from a “component/material” manufacturer. Accordingly, thereare many cases that any of an order form number and a purchase formnumber is used as a purchase lot identification number.

The purchase lot identification number and the manufacturing lotidentification number do not always correspond to each other.Consequently, in the purchase lot trace information memory unit 79 thepurchase lot identification number is made to correspond to themanufacturing lot identification number. For example, in a second recordof FIG. 9 a purchase lot identification number P01002 of“component/material” with the “component/material” IC001 corresponds tothe manufacturing lot identification number LOT012A2. Meanwhile, here isassumed that like a fourth record of FIG. 9, a plurality ofmanufacturing lot identification numbers can also be made to correspondto one purchase lot identification number. This signifies that“component/material” with a plurality of manufacturing lotidentification numbers may be mixed in “component/material” of onepurchase lot.

When generally purchasing “component/material,” a barcode of amanufacturing lot identification number and the like are not alwaysadded to any of a package and containing case of the“component/material.” To the package and containing case of the“component/material” is added any barcode of an order form number andpurchase form number instead of a manufacturing lot identificationnumber, and the manufacturing lot identification number is provided asadditional data of the form. In such the case the purchase lot traceinformation memory unit 79 is made in advance, based on the additionaldata of the form. If so, a purchase lot identification number can beused instead of a manufacturing lot identification number in theembodiment described in FIGS. 1 to 8. If so, although informationobtained as traceability information of “component/material”constituting a manufactured article is the purchase lot identificationnumber, the number can easily be converted to the manufacturing lotidentification number by using the purchase lot trace information memoryunit 79.

[Application to a Case of Indefinite Shape “Component/Material”]

The “component/material” traceability control apparatus 7 in theembodiments thus described is also applicable to a case of indefinite“component/material” such as a solder. In a flow soldering process areverse side of an electronic circuit board where components are mountedis immersed in a molten solder bath, and thereby soldering of a throughhole and the like is performed. In this case the working unit 11 is themolten solder bath, and in addition, the bath doubles as the“component/material” reserve unit 12. In the molten solder bath, as new“component/material” is thrown in a solder bar every time when an amountof a molten solder decreases by a predetermined amount, in order to keepthe amount of the molten solder approximately constant.

FIG. 10 is a drawing exemplifying a time chart of a manufacturingprocedure of an electronic circuit board when the present invention isapplied to a flow soldering process. In FIG. 10 a time chart of an upperstage is the chart showing a manufacturing of an electronic circuitboard with the manufactured article name PB00A same as in the case ofFIG. 3, that is, a time chart by which flow soldering is performed. Forexample, the flow soldering of an electronic circuit board with themanufactured article identification number A0002 is started at nineo'clock and finished at nine fifty five (actually it does not take timethis much).

On the other hand, as shown in a time chart of a lower stage, in the“component/material” reserve unit 12, that is, a molten solder bath withan identification number 456A, a solder bar with a manufacturing lotidentification number LOTHA02 becomes thrown in after nine o'clock,instead of a solder bar with a manufacturing lot identification numberLOTHA01 being thrown in till then. In such the case a condition of asolder with the manufacturing lot identification number LOTHA01 and onewith the manufacturing lot identification number LOTHA02 being mixedresults in continuing some time after nine o'clock in the molten solderbath. In other words, the electronic circuit board with the manufacturedarticle identification number A0002 results in containing as“component/material” thereof the solder bar with the manufacturing lotidentification number LOTHA01 and one with the manufacturing lotidentification number LOTHA02.

In the present invention, because a plurality of manufacturing lotidentification numbers are made to correspond to each productmanufactured, it is enabled to easily apply the embodiments described inFIGS. 1 to 8 to such the case described above. However, in order toapply the procedure shown in FIG. 8 as it is for obtaining thetraceability information shown in FIG. 8, it is necessary for the“component/material” traceability control apparatus 7 not to memorizetime as it is, which the manufacturing control personal computer 2 sendsas “component/material” supply stop time in the “component/material”reserve unit 12, but to memorize time, where time when a mixture of“component/material” with different manufacturing lot identificationnumbers continues is added to the time sent by the computer 2, asinformation to be memorized in the field of the “component/material”supply stop time 776 of the “component/material” supply performanceinformation memory unit 77.

In the case of FIG. 10, the “component/material” traceability controlapparatus 7 memorizes in the field of the “component/material” supplystop time 776 of the “component/material” supply performance informationmemory unit 77 that if the condition of the solder with themanufacturing lot identification number LOTHA01 and one with themanufacturing lot identification number LOTHA02 being mixed iseliminated, for example, at nine fifty five, the supply stop time of thesolder bar with the manufacturing lot identification number LOTHA01 isnot at nine o'clock but nine fifty. Meanwhile, not limited to a solderwithin a molten solder bath, it is difficult in many cases to specifytime when a mixture of “component/material” with different manufacturinglot identification numbers is actually eliminated. Consequently, in suchthe cases the time of the mixture elimination of the“component/material” is substituted by an expectation value obtained inadvance through a numerical calculation, a simulation, and the like.

Thus also in the case of the indefinite shape “component/material,”according to the procedure shown in FIG. 8, the information of themanufacturing lot trace information memory unit 78, that is, thetraceability information of relevant “component/material” can be madefor each product. Meanwhile, this embodiment can also be applied tocontrol of the traceability information of a material not remaining as“component/material” of a product, for example, cleaning liquid used ina manufacturing process.

1. A component and material traceability control method in a componentand material traceability control apparatus for controllingmanufacturing lot identification information of any of a component andmaterial constituting a product manufactured by a manufacturingapparatus with not less than one component and material reserve unitsupplying the component and material to manufacture the product, saidcomponent and material traceability control apparatus comprising aprocessing unit; a memory unit used as a work area by the processingunit; a manufacturing performance information memory unit; and acomponent and material supply performance information memory unit,wherein said component and material traceability control methodcomprising the steps of: memorizing information of manufacturing starttime and end time of said product by the manufacturing apparatus in saidmanufacturing performance information memory unit, said information ofmanufacturing start time and end time being made to correspond tomanufacturing apparatus identification information of said manufacturingapparatus and manufactured article identification information added tosaid product; and memorizing information of component and materialsupply start time and stop time of a predetermined component andmaterial by the component and material reserve unit in said componentand material supply performance information memory unit, saidinformation of component and material supply start time and stop timebeing made to correspond to manufacturing lot identification informationof the component and material, the manufacturing apparatusidentification information of said manufacturing apparatus, componentand material reserve unit identification information of said componentand material reserve unit, and a name of the component and materialsupplied, wherein it is allowable to make more than one manufacturinglot identification of the component and material correspond to theinformation of component and material supply start time and stop time.2. A component and material traceability control method according toclaim 1, further comprising the step of extracting not less than onepiece of manufacturing lot identification information of the componentand material, which component and material are used in said product,based on the information of the manufacturing start time and end time ofsaid product memorized in said manufacturing performance informationmemory unit and the information of the component and material supplystart time and end time memorized in said component and material supplyperformance information memory unit.
 3. A component and materialtraceability control method in a component and material traceabilitycontrol apparatus for controlling manufacturing lot identificationinformation of any of a component and material constituting a productmanufactured by a manufacturing apparatus with not less than onecomponent and material reserve unit supplying the component and materialto manufacture the product, said component and material traceabilitycontrol apparatus comprising a processing unit; a memory unit used as awork area by the processing unit; a manufacturing performanceinformation memory unit; a component and material supply performanceinformation memory unit; and a purchase lot trace identificationinformation memory unit, wherein said component and materialtraceability control method comprising the steps of: memorizing purchaselot trace identification information for identifying a purchase lot ofthe component and material, which is made to correspond to manufacturinglot identification information of the component and material containedin the purchase lot of the component and material, in the purchase lottrace identification information memory unit, wherein it is allowable tomake more than one manufacturing lot identification of the component andmaterial correspond to one piece of the purchase lot traceidentification information; memorizing information of manufacturingstart time and end time of said product by the manufacturing apparatusin said manufacturing performance information memory unit, saidinformation of manufacturing start time and end time being made tocorrespond to manufacturing apparatus identification information of saidmanufacturing apparatus and manufactured article identificationinformation added to said product; and memorizing information ofcomponent and material supply start time and stop time of apredetermined component and material by the component and materialreserve unit in said component and material supply performanceinformation memory unit, said information of component and materialsupply start time and stop time being made to correspond to the purchaselot trace identification information, the manufacturing apparatusidentification information, component and material reserve unitidentification information of said component and material reserve unit,and a name of the component and material supplied.
 4. A component andmaterial traceability control method according to claim 3, furthercomprising the step of extracting not less than one piece ofmanufacturing lot identification information of the component andmaterial, which component and material are used in said product, basedon the information of the purchase lot trace identification informationmemory unit, the manufacturing performance information memory unit andthe component and material supply performance information memory unit.